My Obligatory "Best of E3" Post

Here is a quick rundown of the games I was impressed by and/or excited for following E3 2012 in no particular order. Note that I am mostly a PC gamer so take that bias into account. Anyways, here they are:

• Watch Dogs (Ubisoft, multiplatform) - No doubt the Game of Show for many, Watch Dogs came out of nowhere during Ubisoft's press conference and blew everyone away with incredible graphics and potentially revolutionary "hacker" gameplay. The shown gameplay (see video above) was running on a PC but console gamers will likely have to wait until the next console generation to see similar visuals on their TVs.

• Planetside 2 (Sony Online Entertainment, PC) - The original Planetside was one of the first MMOs I played and the franchise still holds a special place in my heart for the massive single-shard world, epic battles, and crazy Battlefield-eque moments. PS2 will be free-to-play, though I hope there is an optional subscription model like Star Trek Online where subscribers get additional benefits rather than having to pay piecemeal for things. Also, SOE only showed off one continent, will there be more?

• Star Wars 1313 (LucasArts, multiplatform) - Personally, none of the recent Star Wars games has impressed me. The Old Republic seemed like too much of a WoW clone (same can be said for The Elder Scrolls Online at this point too) and the Force Unleashed franchise was way-too over the top for me. I think the last Star Wars game I really enjoyed was the PC strategy game Empires at War. That said, 1313 looks like a bold new direction for Star Wars that seems to be channeling mojo from Star Wars: Bounty Hunter.

• Aliens: Colonial Marines (Sega/Gearbox, multiplatform) - Aliens remains one of my favorite movies and Colonial Marines is looking very solid despite its delay to 2013. The humans vs. xenomorphs multiplayer reminds me a lot of Left 4 Dead in all the right ways and I hope it is properly balanced so neither side dominates online. I, for one, LOVE the cornbread.  

• ARMA III (Bohemia Interactive, PC) - I have not played ARMA II, but this new title looks like the true war simulator that Battlefield is a bit too arcade-y to be. Massive maps with tons of vehicles and (hopefully) a speedy port of DayZ should make this sequel a hit. 

• Assassins Creed III (Ubisoft, multiplatform) - ACIII will be the first Assassins Creed game I have ever purchased, and it should be well worth the cash. It is set during the American Revolution, a period of time that has been surprisingly ignored by most historically-based games. The expansive wilderness open to exploration outside of the main cities of Boston and New York reminds me of Skyrim's wooded sections in a good way and I can't wait to introduce some Redcoats to my blades.  

• Dishonored (Bethesda Softworks/Arkane Studios, multiplatform) - With a visual style coming from a mash-up of steampunk and Half-Life 2, Dishonored also seems to be taking a page out of the gameplay of Deus Ex. Games that fully simulate an open world with systems you can take advantage of to complete your objectives are among my favorites, so hopefully this new IP can pull off everything it is attempting.

• The Last of Us (Naughty Dog, PS3) - The only game on this list I won't be able to play as I don't own a PS3, but that doesn't diminish how good The Last of Us looks. Zombies are the new Nazis as far as developers are concerned these days, but the cinematic combat and potentially great storytelling should make this game a hit.

• XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2K/Firaxis, PC) - As one of the only strategy games at E3 this year, XCOM had to fill a big hole in my heart. Luckily for me the gameplay looks solid and longtime Civilization developer Firaxis has a reputation for great strategy games. 

Honorable mentions (or games that weren't shown at E3):

• Metro: 2034
• SimCity
• StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
• Command and Conquer: Generals 2
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (if only for, finally, a change in scenery for the franchise)
• Whatever Retro Studios is working on for Nintendo
• Skyrim: Dawnguard
• Hawken
• Battlefield 3: Armored Kill
• Company of Heroes 2

Rapid Reactions: That's One Small Step for Microsoft; One Giant Leap for Cable Cutters

The Facts:

• Microsoft announced multiple new content partners for the Xbox 360
• ESPN will bring 24/7 live streams of their major TV channels
• The NBA and NHL are bringing their apps as well
• Other providers include Revision3, Twitch.tv, Comedy Central, and Paramount
• A full list can be found here
• A subscription to Xbox Live Gold (~$60/year) is required to access this content

Initial Reaction:

At the annual gaming love-fest known as E3, there have been a lot of great games announced. Games that will surely sell millions of copies and make many millions of revenue. Nintendo is even set to reveal everything about the first of the next generation of consoles, the Wii U, tomorrow at their main press conference (which might also be their last home console, but that is for another post). But only one announcement has really left me feeling I have seen the future, and it isn't a videogame.

ESPN is coming to the Xbox 360. And no, I don't mean the online-only offerings of ESPN 3; I am talking about the full force of 24/7 live feeds from the ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN U TV channels. Buy an Xbox 360, Xblox Live Gold, and have Internet access (and, if my Dad is to be believed, possibly pay a small fee to ESPN as well) and you now have the first real a la carte TV experience. And this is not coming from Apple, who has fumbled for years with the "hobby"-status Apple TV, or Google, whose Google TV program has been at best a flop for them and hardware partner Logitech, but Microsoft. Yes, the same company that thinks we want a smartphone UI for desktop computers.

Microsoft seems to have been trying to reach this point for several years. It was one of the first companies Netflix partnered with to get their streaming service onto every screen in existence. Hulu and ESPN3 were added alongside movie rentals and purchasing in Zune. On the PC, Windows Media Center has allowed users to buy a TV tuner card, plug it into a PC, and watch live TV in a window on your monitor for years. Earlier, I wondered aloud on G+ the possibilities if the next Xbox were to come with an internal or external TV tuner. Microsoft may not have had the first connected set-top box or the best content deals for some time, but they have made lapped the "big boys" while no one was looking. It is probably safe to say that there are more Xbox 360's hooked up to TVs than Apple TVs, Google TVs, Boxee Boxes, and Roku boxes combined. And the usage numbers are probably in Microsoft's favor to an even greater degree.

ESPN on the Xbox 360 will now become the first real toe of a major cable network in the water of a la carte channel offering. It's success could prompt others to follow; it's failure could leave us with the current model of paying the cable company for channels we never watch. Time will tell. Sooner or later, time will tell.

Questions moving forward:

• Will the new ESPN app be free or be an additional monthly fee?
• Will ESPN offer a similar deal to Apple, Google, or other players?
• Should Xbox Live Gold be free now that it mostly covers 3rd party digital content?
• Will Apple, Google, and others really get behind their set-top box and/or connected TV efforts?
• How will other networks and the cable companies react?

Rapid Reactions: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus

The Facts:

• Google and Samsung announced the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, which will be the first device running the new Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" OS.
• No pricing or carriers were announced, but LTE and HSPA+ versions were confirmed and it is widely accepted that at least Verizon will carry the device in the US, with global launch coming in November.
• Hardware highlights include a curved 4.7 inch 1280x720 Super AMOLED screen and NFC.
• New software features include facial-recognition device unlocking, improved notifications, improved camera app, better speech-to-text, and Android Beam sharing.

Initial Reaction:

Hardware wise, the specs are not surprising given the current crop of high-end Android phones and the iPhone 4S. This is not some revolutionary quad-core monster; rather, it seems a small but noticeable step up from devices like the Bionic, Galaxy S 2, and Sensation. As such, the main selling point for this phone will be Android 4.0.

Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) has been presented as the update to reunite the current phone (Gingerbread) and tablet (Honeycomb) "forks" in the Android OS. As if that wasn't enough, ICS needed to bring enough new features to the table to combat Apple's Siri-laced iOS 5. Time will tell if all devices can play nice under the ICS tent from here on out, but I am not sure Google added any single feature that has the "wow" factor Siri seems to have. 

Still, Android took a significant step towards usability and unified vision today, but the iPhone remains the current master in those categories. ICS is by far the largest feature update to Android in a long time, perhaps ever, and that is a good thing. However, Google still needs to step up their game and offer a unified, easy-to-use music purchasing service in the Android Market alongside apps, books, and movies.

In the end, Android remains the best fit for my needs and wants in a smartphone OS. Google has shown a willingness to drastically change how their software works (remember the navigation ball on the Nexus 1?) by making significant updates to the UI and even going so far as to removed the need for any physical buttons other than power and volume from phones. They have shown willingness to throw out the old and start fresh if they had a better idea, and I approve of and support that position.

Apple, meanwhile, apparently remains convinced that the "icons-on-a-screen" UI they came up with four-and-a-half years ago is the best UI for mobile devices. They have had to figure out ways to put new features in without changing the core UI, which hasn't always yielded the best results. For a huge number of people, Apple's approach works just fine, but I am not one of them. If anything, ICS and iOS 5 show that there is still a great future ahead for phone software as hardware seems to be slowly diminishing in importance. 

Questions moving forward:

• Will the GN be available on more carriers than just Verizon in the USA?
• Which current Android phones/tablets will get updated, and when?
• How will manufactures adapt their skins to the new UI, especially HTC and Sense?
• What ever happened to Google's 18-month update plan? We haven't heard anything about it since I/O.
• Will ICS actually help end "fragmentation" moving forward?
• When will we start seeing new devices launching with ICS out of the door? 
• Most importantly: was this enough for Molly Wood?!?

Rapid Reactions: iPhone 4S

Note: Rapid Reactions is a new series of posts I will try to do with a consistent format that presents the basic facts, my initial opinions, and some questions for the future of various tech announcements. Please let me know in the comments how you like the style of the post!

The Facts:

• Apple today announced the new CDMA/GSM iPhone 4S starting at $199, with the old iPhone 4 and 3GS now costing $99 and free (on 2 year contract) respectfully. 
• New hardware features include an A5 processor and improved camera.
• Software improvements are headed by Android-style notifications, Twitter integration, and Siri voice action software.
• Available Oct. 14 on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon in the US & around the world.
• No significant hardware design changes, contrary to rumors. 

Initial Reaction:

What is Apple thinking? During a time of 4+ inch, LTE-equipped Android phones, Apple seems to be playing catch-up, especially in software. By and large, nearly every new feature in iOS from this and last year's update seems to be features Android has had for years. Unified notifications, desktop folders, custom backgrounds, fast-app switching, voice commands, etc. Even iCloud is merely a collection of services that have been available on other platforms and from other companies for months, and in some cases, years. Sure, no one has put them all under one hood until now, but that is really the only part of the service that Apple can claim to be leaders on.

I really wanted Apple to come out with some insane new hardware and make major changes to their software to move past the "gird of icons on a screen" UI layout to force innovation from their competitors, but it looks like Tim Cook and company had no such plans. The problem for Apple is that if they only want to release a new iPhone once a year, they need to make sure that it will be competitive for an entire year following it's release. And, for the first time, I can't say that the 4S will be competitive in 9 months.

Just look at this comparison chart whipped up by Engadget and you will see a lot more green (indicating "best" in that particular category) under the Droid Bionic than under the iPhone 4S, and anyone who is a fan of iOS should see that as a huge problem. Yes, hardware isn't everything, but there was a time that Apple had unquestionably the best hardware and software in the smartphone industry, and I don't think you could argue that with the same vigor today. 

Yesterday, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, and everyone else were playing catch-up to Apple and the iPhone. Today, they may no longer have to.

Questions moving forward:

• Will Apple release an "iPhone 5" early next year or will we wait another year?
• How many Sprint customers will flock to the phone? And will it be enough to "save" the carrier from the much larger AT&T and Verizon?
• What new hardware and software improvements will we see when the Nexus Prime and Ice Cream Sandwich are (likely) announced next week?
• Will WP7 really start being competitive this fall? And what effect would that have on iOS and Android?
• If Apple waits another year to add LTE to the iPhone, how will consumers react in the meantime?
• And most importantly, is today the day we will look back on as the beginning of the decline of the iPhone as the "Jesus phone" brand?

Why I love Android

Look, all these arguments over "open" versus "closed" and "polish" versus "customization" are, quite frankly, all bull shit. The only question you as either a first-time smartphone buyer or someone considering jumping platforms should consider is this one: On which platform will my needs be met and will I be most productive and happy?

For me, the choice is Android. For you, maybe it is iOS, or BlackBerry OS, or even Windows Phone 7. Heck, you might be a-OK with that RAZR you have had since 2005. As long as it suites your needs and makes you happy, don't listen to all this chatter from the fanboys and tech elite trying to convince you that one company or another is "good" or "evil." They have their heads too far up in the clouds to see that not everyone down below agrees with their opinion. Shocking, I know, but some people actually have different likes and interests!

Personally, I like flexibility. I like tinkering. I like making things do stuff that they probably shouldn't be doing. And, probably most of all, I don't like wasting time. I hate going through a million menus to find the button to turn off my WiFi (iOS and to a lesser extent Windows, that's looking at you). I hate being told my desktop or home screen must look a certain way. I cannot stand being told I can't do something on a device I purchased because it might "confuse" other users. Android lets me have complete control over my device and I love it.

With widgets (as shown in my super easy-to-get screen capture from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1), I can access the information I used most often - what is the time, what is the weather, and what is my schedule - without opening a single app. In 2 seconds I have all the information I need 80% of the time. Sure, I probably trade some battery life and perhaps get occasional lag, but overall I save a ton of time and I am happier because of it. With my WiFi on/off widget, it is literally ONE CLICK to toggle my WiFi. And you can do that for nearly any system setting - mobile data, Bluetooth, GPS, brightness.

Those are the kinds of things that are important to me as a user. Not having the sleekest transitions or the most mind-blowingly creative UI. But hey, you might disagree. Good thing not one company (*cough*Apple*cough*) dominates the smartphone market anymore so there is real choice for consumer. You don't like widgets, guess what, buy something else. I promise I won't flame you for it.

Half a million Android devices activated daily

Or, 3.5 million per week or 15 million per month. Absolute insanity when a year ago we were at 100,000 per day. 

Just wait until Android tablets (and maybe iPod Touch competitors?) hit their stride. 

[Twitter]

Half a million Android devices activated daily

Or, 3.5 million per week or 15 million per month. Absolute insanity when a year ago we were at 100,000 per day. 

Just wait until Android tablets (and maybe iPod Touch competitors?) hit their stride. 

How to set up Virginia Tech's WebMail to forward to Gmail

Fellow Hokies, let's face it: Virginia Tech's WebMail sucks. It sucks hard. And Microsoft Outlook isn't much better.

But, there is a better choice. Especially if you have an Android phone, setting up WebMail to forward to your Gmail account makes getting all your VT emails anywhere (on the phone or on the browser) easy as can be. Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up Gmail to automatically import your WebMail emails.

Check it out past the break.

Tsssss BOOM - A journey in running a Minecraft multiplayer server

This past weekend I spent a good deal of time setting up a Minecraft SMP (Survival Multiplayer, or Beta) server for a Minecraft group here at VPI. The catalyst for this was a desire to mine, and perhaps even craft, with other gamers on and off campus. Plus, the group didn't have an official SMP server so I figured i might as well put the Core i5 in my desktop to work. If only it was as easy as clicking the download link on the Minecraft page...

Amazon is laying the foundation to own content distribution on Android

Amazon just launched the duo of Cloud Drive and Cloud Player on to an unsuspecting world, and it is just the latest volley as they are looking to unify digital content buying under their banner. They now have all the functionality that Apple provides with iTunes and are unlikely to stop here. Lets do a quick rundown:

• Books, newspapers, and magazines through Kindle
• Android Apps through the Amazon App Store
• Videos through video downloads or streaming
• Music purchasing through the MP3 Store
• Music playing and streaming through Cloud Player

Amazon needs to offer better organization and unification between these services, especially on the mobile front. But they have beaten both Google and Apple to the music streaming game and are even rumored to be working on hardware running Android. Personally, I think they could be the first company to offer a real competitor to the iPod Touch rather than entering the smartphone or tablet market. [Amazon]